How to Use Coupons
to Save Big
Money
at the Grocery Store
By: Lisa DeGirolamo
Copyright 2011 Lisa DeGirolamo
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Couponing Terms you need to
Know
Where to get Coupons
Newspapers
Printable
Coupons
Store Loyalty Cards
E-Coupons
Purchasing
Coupons
Organizing your Coupons
Using your
Coupons
Manufacturer Coupons
Store Coupons
Stacking
Coupons
Coupon Doubling
Competitor Coupons
Coupon
Matching
Store Coupon Policies
Stockpiling
Meal
Planning
Brand Loyalties
When not to use Coupons
Charting
your Success
Warehouse Stores & Super Centers
Conclusion
SPECIAL BONUS SECTION
How to Save Money at
CVS & Walgreens
Introduction
We’ve all heard the stories of people going to the grocery store and getting $200 worth of groceries for $50 (a 75% savings). Did we really believe it? How do they do it? Coupons are only 40 or 50 cents each. How many coupons are these people using? What are they buying and is it stuff that I buy too?
The answer is simple. These people have perfected the art or science perhaps, of using coupons effectively to consistently save 50 to 75 percent at the grocery store each and every week. I know this for a fact because now I do it too.
Before I mastered the art of couponing I was spending $1,200 a month at the grocery store to feed my family of four. We were very undisciplined back then. We didn’t have a regular shopping day but instead went to the store almost every day to buy groceries. Running out to the store to buy milk usually resulted in a $40 purchase because we would pick up other things while we were there. This happened every day. We never had a plan and our grocery bill was spiraling out of control.
By chance, I was talking to one of my friends one day about how out of control my grocery bills had become. This is when she told me about couponing and that she has been doing it for a year now and has been saving a ton at the grocery store. I couldn’t believe it! Here’s a person I’ve known for years and had no idea she was one of THOSE people - the people that spend $50 a week for $200 worth of groceries. She even told me that the checkout people gather around the register when she checks out because they are amazed at how much she’s saving! She’s a local grocery store celebrity, and now so am I.
In this eBook, I’m going to share with you the methods I use to save anywhere from 50 to 75 percent on my grocery bill each week. It is very simple but it takes some time, dedication and commitment. After your first trip to the grocery store, you’ll see that it’s well worth it!
Couponing Terms you need to Know
Before you jump into couponing, there are some terms you need to know to avoid confusion.
B1G1, BOGO, B1G1F – “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” *Many B1G1’s are really just ½ off*
$/$$ - Dollars off wyb XX dollars
.50/1 - Fifty cents off one item
.50/3 - Fifty cents off 3 items
DND5 - Coupon says Do Not Double, but the bar code starts with a 5, most computers will still double it
NED - No Expiration Date
Blinkies - Coupon dispensed near product, in the store (usually from a “blinking” red box)
Catalina - Coupon dispensed at the register at the time of purchase (on separate paper)
Peelie - Coupon that you peel off the package
Tear Pad - Pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
FAR - Free After Rebate
IP - Internet Printable (a coupon you print off the internet)
MFR - Manufacturer
MQ - Manufacturer coupon
MIR - Mail in Rebate
OOP - Out Of Pocket
PG - Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert coupons
RP - Red Plum Sunday insert coupons
SS - Smartsource Sunday insert coupons
FLIP - Food Lion Internet Printable
Regional - Coupon value only distributed to a certain area
WYB - When You Buy
WSL - While Supply Lasts
CRT - Cash Register Tape (coupon that prints on your receipt)
You will encounter these terms throughout your couponing education and you will need to know the “lingo” before you get started.
Where to get Coupons
There are so many places to get coupons. The following list is all of the sources I know.
Newspapers:
Sunday Paper
The Sunday paper is loaded with flyers but the inserts you want to look out for are the Smart Source inserts and the Red Plum inserts. Every month you will find a Procter and Gamble (P&G) insert. Keep this too – it is gold! All three of these inserts are loaded with grocery coupons.
Many people buy multiple papers and the coupons vary by region. I usually buy ten papers every Sunday for $1 each. Be on the lookout for people selling the Sunday paper for a $1 near major shopping areas.
A friend asked me recently, “If you’re spending $10 on newspapers every week, how much are you really saving?”.
Well, I thought about it and wrote down some numbers. Here’s an example:
Bought 10 papers on 1/2/11 for $10
Coupons used in one month:
10 -$2/1 Wisk
Laundry Detergent ($20)
10 -$2.25/1 Finish Dishwasher Detergent
($22.50)
10 - $2/2 Palmolive Dish Soap ($20)
10 -$.75/1
Palmolive Dish Soap ($7.50)
10 -$.50/1 Peter Pan Peanut Butter
($10 because coupon doubles)
All said and done, I spent $10 to save $80, or $70 net.
Mid Week Free Paper in your Driveway
For years I would pick up this paper that was thrown in my driveway and walk it directly to the recycle bin, usually after running over it with my car. Little did I know that it was loaded with addition Smart Source, Red Plum and P&G inserts! If you get one of these papers, pull out the inserts. You can also grab your neighbor’s paper too, after you ask them. This is a great way to accumulate coupons for free!
Magazines:
All You
Good Housekeeping
Better Homes and
Gardens
Redbook
Country Living
Parade Magazine
And many
more…...
Printable Coupons: